Utilizing an incentive point system based on disc and user identification

ABSTRACT

A system and method for awarding incentive points utilizing unique disc identification to provide access to disc storage media includes a disc storage medium with a permanently recorded disc identification, a user console with a set identification, a network, and a host server managing a user database and a disc database. Upon purchase of software stored on a disc storage medium, the unique disc identification and user identification are transmitted over the network from the user console to the host server. Permission to access the programs residing on the disc storage medium by the user console is obtained from the host server. The host server manages a point system. Points are awarded and recorded in point accounts stored in the databases.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional and claims the priority benefit of U.S.patent application No. Ser. 09/894,182, entitled “System for Utilizingan Incentive Point System Based on Disc and User Identification” andfiled Jun. 28, 2001, which claims the priority benefit of U.S.provisional patent application No. 60/270,235, entitled “Apparatus andMethod for Utilizing an Incentive Point System Based on Disc and UserIdentification,” and filed Feb. 20, 2001. This application is alsorelated to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/894,793, entitled “Systemand Method for Transfer of Disc Ownership Based on Disc and UserIdentification,” and filed on Jun. 28, 2001. The subject matter of theseapplications is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to electronic processing systems andmore particularly to a point reward system utilizing unique discidentification to authorize access to disc storage media.

2. Description of the Background Art

Disc storage media, such as CD-ROM and DVD-ROM storage discs, aretypical storage devices for commercially available software programs.For example, publishers and manufacturers of games for electronic gamingsystems use read-only storage devices such as CD-ROM discs to distributeand sell their products. Discs may be passed and shared among users;however, there is no effective system in place to account for thepotential multiple users of commercially available software products.

Even though discs may be shared without any constraints, it may be thatdiscs are shared only between small groups of users without widespreaddistribution among the entire user population. The software product isnot widely shared, thereby forcing others to purchase their own copy.The software product does not achieve widespread advertising either,limiting the potential for a larger consumer base. For example, thepublishers and distributors of game software would like their productsadvertised to a wide customer base as well as purchased by a widecustomer base.

A system that would offer an incentive to a user of a software productwhen this user shares the product with others, or when the user playsthe product, is a concern of publishers and distributors of softwareproducts. A user may tire of a product on a disc, but instead of storingthe disc away, maybe never to be seen again, the user is offered anincentive to share. Therefore, the user may be more inclined to share asoftware product with others. Such a system would (1) promote theproduct, (2) attract other users who may purchase more products in thefuture, and (3) offer all users incentives to purchase more products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic processing system includes a disc storage medium with apermanently recorded disc identification, a user console with a setidentification, a network, a host server managing a user database and adisc database, and multiple publisher servers managing multiplepublisher databases. The user console may include a memory card or otherremovable storage medium, for storing data including the setidentification and disc identification. Upon the first use of theconsole, the user is prompted for user information from the host server,and a user identification is assigned to the user. The useridentification is functionally interchangeable with the setidentification, and either may be used to identify the user.

The user database includes a plurality of user tables, each user tableincluding a user identification associated with a point account. Thepoint account includes data relevant to the management of an incentivepoint system including the total points accumulated by the useridentified with the associated user identification. The disc databaseincludes a plurality of disc tables, each disc table including a discidentification with an associated owner consent data field and asub-account. The owner consent data field includes data regarding otheruser access permissions. The sub-account includes data relevant to themanagement of an incentive point system including the points accumulatedby the user identified with the associated disc identification. Inaddition, each publisher database includes a plurality of sub-accounts,where each sub-account is similar in content to the sub-account of thedisc table. Instead of managing the sub-accounts by the host server, thesub-accounts may be managed by the publisher servers.

In one embodiment, the user console connects to the host server andtransmits the user identification and disc identification read from thedisc storage medium to gain permission to execute the programs residingon the disc storage medium. In another embodiment, the user consoleconnects to the host server and transmits the user identification anddisc identification the first time a disc is booted by the user console,but after the initial access permission is granted, the discidentification and user identification are stored on the memory card togrant access permission for subsequent disc sessions.

The host server compares the transmitted disc identification with thestored disc identifications associated with the transmitted useridentification in the user table, and if necessary, with the stored discidentifications associated with the other user identifications. The hostserver awards incentive points to (1) the sub-account of a user of afirst-time registered disc, (2) the sub-account of a previous user of adisc that has granted another user access permission, and (3) thesub-account of a user of a disc used previously by the same user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic processingsystem according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of the disc storage medium of FIG.1 according to the invention;

FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of the user database managed by the hostserver of FIG. 1 according to the invention;

FIG. 3B shows one embodiment of the disc database managed by the hostserver of FIG. 1 according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the publisher database managed by thepublisher server of FIG. 1 according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of method steps for acquiring disc accesspermission according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of method steps for granting disc accesspermission and awarding reward/incentive points according to oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic processingsystem according to the invention. The processing system includes, butis not limited to, a disc storage medium (disc) 110, a user console 115,a set identification (ID) 120, a network 125, a host server 130, a userdatabase (DB) 135, a disc database (DB) 140, a plurality of publisherservers 145, and a plurality of publisher databases (Pub. DB) 150.

The disc 110 is a read-only storage device such as a CD-ROM or aDVD-ROM. As will be discussed further below in conjunction with FIG. 2,a disc identification is stored on the disc 110 to uniquely identify thedisc 110.

The user console 115 is an electronic device, such as an electronicgaming system, a general-purpose computer, or a set-top box, that mayaccess the contents of the disc 110. The user console 115 has aninterface to the network 125. The network 125 may be a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, a cablenetwork, or the Internet. The Internet is a broad network ofinterconnected computers and servers allowing for the transmission andexchange of Internet Protocol (IP) data between users connected to theInternet through a network service provider. Examples of network serviceproviders are the public switched telephone network, a cable serviceprovider, or a satellite service provider.

The user console 115 may be configured to access data from otherremovable storage media, such as memory cards, floppy discs, or harddisc drives.

During a first use of the user console 115, a user registers the userconsole 115 with the host server 130. The user console 115 may beregistered and identified by either a set ID 120 or a USER ID. The hostserver 130 stores the set ID 120, the USER ID, or both in the userdatabase 135. As further discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 6, thefirst time user of the user console 115 will be prompted by the hostserver 130 to enter user information. This user information will be usedto associate a USER ID with a user. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the USER ID identifies users. However, the set ID 120 may beused instead of the USER ID to identify users.

The host server 130 stores data in the user database 135 and the discdatabase 140. The databases will be discussed in more detail below inconjunction with FIGS. 3A-3B. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the host server 130 has access to a plurality of publisherservers 145. The publisher servers 145 manage sub-accounts associatedwith DISC UNIQUE IDs and stored in a plurality of publisher databases150. The publisher databases 150 will be discussed below in conjunctionwith FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment of the disc 110 according to theinvention. The disc 110 includes, but is not limited to, a data accessarea 210, a DISC UNIQUE ID address 220, and a DISC UNIQUE ID 230. Thedisc 110 has a data access area 210 delineated by an inner and outerradius. Data is typically recorded within the data access area 210. Thedata may include software programs, video data, audio data, or any othertype of stored content. Although FIG. 2 shows the DISC UNIQUE ID address220 and the DISC UNIQUE ID 230 recorded within the data access area 210,either can be recorded outside of the data access area 210.

The DISC UNIQUE ID address 220 contains the disc address of the DISCUNIQUE ID 230. The DISC UNIQUE ID 230 uniquely identifies the disc 110.The contents of the disc 110 cannot be played on the user console 115 orother devices without access permission for the disc 110. Accessinstructions are sent to the user console 115 from the host server 130upon receipt of the DISC UNIQUE ID 230 and the USER ID by the hostserver 130 from the user console 115. Access permission andincentive/reward point transactions will be discussed below inconjunction with FIGS. 5-6.

FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of the user database 135 of FIG. 1according to the invention. The user database 135 has a user table 310,including user information and point account information. Userinformation includes the USER ID and may also include, for example, username, address, billing information, and user preferences. The pointaccount information includes incentive and reward point information,such as the total point count and other data relevant to the managementof the incentive and reward point system. The user table 310 may alsoinclude a plurality of DISC UNIQUE IDs that are associated with eachUSER ID. Each DISC UNIQUE ID has associated owner consent data. Theowner consent data is a data field that contains information regardingthe transfer of access permission to another user.

FIG. 3B shows one embodiment of the disc database 140 of FIG. 1according to the invention. The disc database 140 has a disc table 320including disc information and sub-account information. The discinformation includes the DISC UNIQUE ID accompanied by owner consentdata and may also include, for example, title, publisher, type, date ofpurchase, and transfer charge. The disc table 320 may also contain aUSER ID associated with each DISC UNIQUE ID. The transfer charge datafield includes the payment amount due the user upon transfer ofownership to another user. The transfer charge data field may includeother data relevant to charges incurred when ownership of a disc istransferred. The disc table 320 includes a sub-account associated witheach DISC UNIQUE ID. The host server 130 manages the sub-accounts. Thesub-account includes incentive and reward point information for eachDISC UNIQUE ID, such as point count or other data relevant to themanagement of the incentive and reward point system.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the publisher database 150 of FIG. 1according to the invention. In addition to the host server 130 managingthe sub-accounts stored in the disc database 140, the publisher server145 may manage sub-accounts that are subsequently stored in thepublisher database 150. The sub-accounts of the publisher database 150include incentive and reward point information for each DISC UNIQUE ID,such as point count or other data relevant to the management of theincentive and reward point system. For example, sub-accounts of thepublisher database 150 may include a plurality of DISC UNIQUE IDs withrelated reward and incentive point data for all discs manufactured bythe publisher and registered by users. A user may have multiplesub-accounts with each publisher. The user may transfer points from themain point account of the user database 135 to any of the sub-accountsstored on the plurality of publisher databases 150 or the sub-accountstored on the disc database 140.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of method steps for a user to acquire accesspermission for a disc 110 on the user console 115, according to oneembodiment of the invention. First, in step 505, the user console 115reads basic data from the disc 110. In step 510 the user console 115determines if a DISC UNIQUE ID address 220 is stored on the disc 110. Ifthe DISC UNIQUE ID address 220 does not exist, then the method continueswith step 560, and the disc program is executed. However, if a DISCUNIQUE ID address 220 does exist, then, in step 515, the user console115 determines whether a DISC UNIQUE ID 230 is stored at the locationgiven by the DISC UNIQUE ID address 220. If there is no DISC UNIQUE ID230 recorded, then disc program execution is stopped in step 520. Ifthere is a DISC UNIQUE ID 230 recorded, then, in step 525, the DISCUNIQUE ID 230 is read by the user console 115. In step 530, the userconsole 115 determines if a memory card is present. The memory card is aremovable storage device compatible with the user console 115 or otheruser consoles that may store data such as USER ID and DISC UNIQUE ID230.

The FIG. 5 embodiment shows two paths to gain access permission to thedisc 110. If a memory card is not present in user console 115, then theDISC UNIQUE ID 230 and USER ID will be sent to the host server 130 everytime the disc 110 is booted. If a memory card is present, then the DISCUNIQUE ID 230 and USER ID is only sent to the host server 130 the firsttime a user boots the disc 110. When the same user boots the disc 110 onsubsequent occasions, host server 130 access is not needed to access thedisc 110. Instead of sending the USER ID and DISC UNIQUE ID 230 to thehost server 130 for access confirmation, the USER ID and DISC UNIQUE ID230 stored on the memory card are used to confirm or deny access to thedisc 110.

In step 530, if the user console 115 determines that a memory card isnot present, then, in step 535, the user console 115 sends the DISCUNIQUE ID 230 to the host server 130. In step 540, the USER ID is sentto the host server 130. In step 545, access instructions regarding userauthorization are generated and, if appropriate, an incentive point orreward point transaction is made and recorded in the point account andsub-account data fields in the user database 135, disc database 140, andpublisher database 150. Moreover, if necessary, disc ownership orchanges in disc ownership is recorded in the appropriate data fields inthe user database 135, disc database 140, and publisher database 150.The details of step 545 will be discussed in more detail in conjunctionwith FIG. 6.

In step 550, the user console 115 receives from the host server 130 theaccess instructions, and in addition, point information for anyincentive point or reward point transactions conducted. If accesspermission is granted, step 555, then disc program execution cancommence in step 560. However, if access permission is not granted, discprogram execution is stopped in step 520. The details regarding accesspermission and access denial will be discussed below in conjunction withFIG. 6.

Returning to step 530, if the user console 115 determines that a memorycard is present, then, in step 565, the user console 115 determineswhether the DISC UNIQUE ID 230 is recorded on the memory card. If theDISC UNIQUE ID 230 is stored on the memory card, then the host server130 is not contacted and the disc program can be executed in step 560.However, if the user console 115 determines that the DISC UNIQUE ID 230is not stored on the memory card, then in step 535 the user console 115sends the DISC UNIQUE ID 230 to the host server 130. In step 540, theuser console 115 sends the USER ID to the host server 130. In step 545,the host server 130 generates user authorization and point transactiondata. In step 550, the user console 115 receives access instructions andpoint information from the host server 130. In step 555, if disc accesspermission is granted, the DISC UNIQUE ID 230 and USER ID are stored onthe memory card in step 570 and then the disc program is executed instep 560. Consequently, the next time the user boots up the disc 110with the same memory card installed, the host server 130 does not needto be contacted for access permission.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of method steps for granting disc accesspermission and awarding reward/incentive points according to oneembodiment of the invention. First, in step 605, a network connection isestablished from the user console 115 to the host server 130. Then, instep 610, the host server 130 determines whether the user is a firsttime user. If the user is a first time user, then, in step 615, the hostserver 130 prompts the user for initial user data. The user is thenassigned a USER ID by host server 130. If the user is not a first timeuser, then step 615 is skipped. In steps 620 and 625 the host server 130receives the USER ID (or set ID) and DISC UNIQUE ID 230 from the userconsole 115, respectively.

In step 630, the host server 130 accesses the user database 135associated with the USER ID and determines if the received DISC UNIQUEID 230 matches any of the DISC UNIQUE IDs in the user table 310. Ifthere is a match, then the disc 110 has been previously played by theuser. Subsequently, in step 635, incentive point information can berecorded by the host server 130 to the user's point accounts orsub-accounts in any of the databases 135, 140, and 150. Finally, in step640, access permission and incentive point information is sent to theuser console 115.

Users can be awarded incentive points for playing a disc 110. Incentivepoint schemes may be developed and implemented by the host server 130 orpublisher servers 145, and may depend, for example, on disc publicationdate, disc popularity, special promotional schemes, or user performance.In addition, as discussed further below, users can be awarded rewardpoints for either purchase of a new disc or transfer of disc ownershipto another user. The reward point system provides users incentives topurchase new discs or sell used discs to other users, thereby promotinga disc to a wider audience and developing a larger customer base. Rewardpoints and incentive points are recorded by the host server 130 andpublisher servers 145 to the user's point accounts and sub-accounts.Points have value, and may, for example, be redeemed for rebates on discpurchases, publisher promotional items, updated versions of discs oruser consoles, or may be traded among users. The foregoing examples ofpoint redemption are not inclusive, however, and points may be redeemedfor other items as well.

If the received DISC UNIQUE ID 230 does not match any of the DISC UNIQUEIDs in the user table 310 in step 630, then in step 645 the host server130 searches for the received DISC UNIQUE ID 230 in other user's usertables. If the host server 130 does not locate a match, then the disc110 associated with the received DISC UNIQUE ID 230 has been purchasednew by the user and never played. Therefore, in step 650, the DISCUNIQUE ID 230 is recorded to the user table 310. The DISC UNIQUE ID 230may also be recorded in the disc table 320 in the disc database 140 orthe publisher database 150. The user may be granted reward points forpurchase of the new disc. Reward points granted are recorded to the userpoint account or sub-accounts in the multiple databases 135, 140, and150 in step 655. Finally, in step 640, the host server 130 sends accesspermission and point information to the user console 115.

If, in step 645, the host server 130 does match the received DISC UNIQUEID 230 to a DISC UNIQUE ID in another user's user table, then anotheruser owns the disc 110. Therefore, in step 660, the host server 130searches the databases of the other user for owner consent data. If theother user has not granted access permission, then the user is deniedaccess in step 665. However, if the other user has granted accesspermission, then, in step 670, the host server 130 deletes the DISCUNIQUE ID in the other user's user table and records the received DISCUNIQUE ID 230 to the user's user table 310. The other user may store thecontent of the disc 110 to a hard disc drive before granting accesspermission. In step 675, the host server 130 then records reward pointsto the other user's point account or sub-accounts stored in the multipledatabases. Finally, in step 640, the host server 130 sends the userconsole 115 access permission and point information.

The invention has been explained above with reference to a preferredembodiment. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in theart in light of this disclosure. For example, the present invention mayreadily be implemented using configurations other than those describedin the preferred embodiment above. Additionally, the present inventionmay effectively be used in conjunction with systems other than the onedescribed above as the preferred embodiment. Therefore, these and othervariations upon the preferred embodiments are intended to be covered bythe present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.

1. A method for awarding points to users, comprising the steps of:transmitting a disc identification stored on a disc storage medium to ahost server; transmitting a user identification to the host server; andcomparing the transmitted disc identification to stored discidentifications.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein points are added to auser table associated with the user identification if the transmitteddisc identification matches a disc identification stored in the usertable associated with the user identification.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein points are added to an other user table associated with an otheruser identification if the transmitted disc identification matches adisc identification stored in the other user table associated with theother user identification and if the other user table grants ownerconsent.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein points are added to the usertable associated with the user identification.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein points are added to a user table associated with the useridentification if the transmitted disc identification does not match anystored disc identifications in any user tables.
 6. The method of claim5, further comprising the step of recording the transmitted discidentification to the user table associated with the useridentification.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein points are added to adisc table associated with the stored disc identification if thetransmitted disc identification matches the stored disc identificationin the user table.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein if the transmitteddisc identification matches a stored disc identification in an otheruser table and if the other user table grants owner consent, points areadded to a disc table associated with the stored disc identification. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein points are added to the user tableassociated with the user identification.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of recording the transmitted discidentification to a disc table if the transmitted disc identificationdoes not match any stored disc identifications in any user tables. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein points are added to the disc tableassociated with the disc identification.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein if the transmitted disc identification matches a stored discidentification in the user table, points are added to a publisherdatabase associated with the stored disc identification.
 13. The methodof claim 1, wherein if the transmitted disc identification matches astored disc identification in an other user table and if the other usertable grants owner consent, points are added to a publisher databaseassociated with the stored disc identification.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein points are added to the user table associated with the useridentification.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the stepof recording the transmitted disc identification to a publisher databaseassociated with the disc storage medium identified by the transmitteddisc identification if the transmitted disc identification does notmatch any stored disc identifications in any user tables.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein points are added to the publisher databaseassociated with the transmitted disc identification.
 17. A system formanaging a point scheme, comprising: a network; a content identified bya content identification; and a host server being configured to receivethe content identification from the network and configured to assignpoints to a point account associated with the content identification.18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a user databaseaccessible by the host server, the user database including a user tableassociated with a user identification, the user table including thepoint account, the point account being further associated with the useridentification.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the host serverreceives the content identification and the user identification forauthorization to access the content identified by the contentidentification.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the host servercompares the content identification to a plurality of contentidentifications stored in the user table associated with the useridentification, and compares the content identification with a pluralityof content identifications stored in other user tables associated withother user identifications.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein if thecontent identification matches one of the plurality of contentidentifications stored in the user table associated with the useridentification, the host server transmits an access permission signal tothe user that authorizes access to the content, assigns points to thepoint account of the user table associated with the contentidentification and the user identification, and transmits pointinformation to the user.
 22. The system of claim 20, wherein if thecontent identification matches one of the plurality of contentidentifications stored in the other user tables associated with otheruser identifications, and if the matched other user table indicatesowner consent, the host server transmits to the user an accesspermission signal that authorizes access to the content, assigns pointsto the point account of the other user table associated with the contentidentification and the other user identification, and transmits pointinformation to the user.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the hostserver assigns points to the point account of the user table associatedwith the user identification.
 24. The system of claim 20, wherein if thecontent identification matches one of the plurality of contentidentifications stored in the other user tables associated with otheruser identifications, and if the matched other user table does notindicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusalsignal to the user whereby the user cannot access the content.
 25. Thesystem of claim 20, wherein if the content identification does not matchany content identifications stored in any user table, the host servertransmits to the user an access permission signal to access the content,assigns points to the point account of the user table associated withthe user identification, and transmits point information to the user.26. The system of claim 25, wherein the host server records the contentidentification to the user table associated with the useridentification.
 27. The system of claim 20, further comprising a discdatabase accessible by the host server, the disc database including adisc table that includes owner consent data and a sub-account associatedwith the content identification, the sub-account including point dataassociated with the content identification and the owner consent dataincluding access permission data for other users.
 28. The system ofclaim 27, wherein if the content identification matches one of theplurality of content identifications stored in the user table associatedwith the user identification, the host server transmits to the user anaccess permission signal that authorizes access to the content, assignspoints to the sub-account of the disc table associated with the contentidentification, and transmits point information to the user.
 29. Thesystem of claim 27, wherein if the content identification matches one ofthe plurality of content identifications stored in the other user tablesassociated with other user identifications, and if the matched otheruser table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to theuser an access permission signal that authorizes access to the content,assigns points to the sub-account of the disc table associated with thecontent identification, and transmits point information to the user. 30.The system of claim 29, wherein the host server assigns points to thepoint account of the user table associated with the user identification.31. The system of claim 27, wherein if the content identificationmatches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in theother user tables associated with other user identifications, and if thematched other user table does not indicate owner consent, the hostserver transmits an access refusal signal to the user whereby the usercannot access the content.
 32. The system of claim 27, wherein if thecontent identification does not match any content identifications storedin any user table, the host server transmits to the user an accesspermission signal to access the content and transmits point informationto the user.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the host server recordsthe content identification to the disc table.
 34. The system of claim33, wherein the host server assigns points to the sub-account of thedisc table associated with the content identification.
 35. The system ofclaim 20, further comprising a plurality of publisher servers accessibleby the host server, the publisher servers being configured to manage aplurality of publisher databases, wherein each of the publisherdatabases includes sub-accounts managed by one of the publisher servers.36. The system of claim 35, wherein if the content identificationmatches one of the plurality of content identifications stored in theuser table associated with the user identification, the host servertransmits to the user an access permission signal that authorizes accessto the content and transmits point information to the user, and thepublisher server of the publisher database associated with the contentidentification assigns points to the sub-account of the publisherdatabase associated with the content identification.
 37. The system ofclaim 35, wherein if the content identification matches one of theplurality of content identifications stored in the other user tablesassociated with other user identifications, and if the matched otheruser table indicates owner consent, the host server transmits to theuser an access permission signal that authorizes access to the contentand transmits point information to the user, and the publisher server ofthe publisher database associated with the content identificationassigns points to the sub-account of the publisher database associatedwith the content identification.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein thehost server assigns points to the point account of the user tableassociated with the user identification.
 39. The system of claim 35,wherein if the content identification matches one of the plurality ofcontent identifications stored in the other user tables associated withother user identifications, and if the matched other user table does notindicate owner consent, the host server transmits an access refusalsignal to the user whereby the user cannot access the content.
 40. Thesystem of claim 35, wherein if the content identification does not matchany content identifications stored in any user table, the host servertransmits to the user an access permission signal to access the contentand transmits point information to the user.
 41. The system of claim 40,wherein a publisher server of a publisher database associated with thecontent identified by the content identification records the contentidentification to the publisher database.
 42. The system of claim 41,wherein the publisher server of the publisher database associated withthe content identification assigns points to the sub-account of thepublisher database associated with the content identification.
 43. Amethod for managing a point scheme, comprising the steps of: a hostserver receiving a content identification of a content and a useridentification of a user from a network; comparing the received contentidentification to stored content identifications; authorizing access tothe content identified by the content identification; and awardingpoints to point accounts associated with user identifications and thereceived content identification.